Enhancing Skills:
The Malta Chamber’s Perspective
Presentation by Policy Executive
Ms Marilena Gauci
Thursday, 22nd May 2014
Agenda
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Preface
The Importance of Skills to the Maltese Economy
Modernization and Skills
The Malta Chamber’s Stance
Collaboration between Malta Chamber and Academia
Malta Chamber and CEDEFOP
Towards an Employability Index
Closing Remarks
Preface

A skilled workforce provides
the Maltese industry with a
more resilient and
competitive position.

The
Malta
Chamber
reaffirms its firm belief in
education as a pillar upon
which
our
country’s
economy must be built.
The Importance of Skills to
the Maltese Economy

Skills are an inevitable element for the creation of a high
quality workforce that is conducive towards an economy
that is:
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productive;
Innovative;
competitive.
A skill refers to the capability of having accomplishments
carried out with an element of precision and certainty,
whilst having practical knowledge attained in combination
with ability.
Modernization & Skills
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Significant implications of scientific
and technological advancements
are brought upon the education
system and training processes.
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Ongoing changes in the nature of
work call for a continuous
modernization of curriculum in:
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schools;
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colleges;
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the University.
Similarly, staff must be maintained
well-informed and updated.
Modernization & Skills (contd.)
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The creation of new occupations, together with
technological advancements require new skills and
skill categories.
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It is essential for each and every country to
fundamentally review the effectiveness and
appropriateness of its education and training
systems.
The Malta Chamber’s Position

The Malta Chamber firmly
believes that economic
success depends upon how
well-educated and skilled
its workforce is.
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The Maltese economy
should capitalize on our
population’s relative small
size to drive the necessary
improvements to our
systems and structures.
The Malta Chamber’s Position
(contd.)

The Malta Chamber encourages its members to
continuously invest in human capital.

Having strong connections between industry and
academia ensures that solutions to meet the global
demands are:
 innovative;
 competitive;
 dynamic.
Collaboration between Malta
Chamber and Academia
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Malta
Chamber Foundation and the University of Malta
(UoM)

To help identify experts from the business
community for their involvement in different project.

‘The Malta Chamber Student Internship Scheme’
was recently launched as a pilot programme with
the Faculty of Engineering.
Collaboration between Malta
Chamber and Academia (contd.)
A Collaboration between the Malta Chamber and the
Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy
(FEMA)
 A skills gap analysis is being conducted, relative to the
skills required by companies wanting to internationalize
their operations.
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It is in our interest to take a firm stand on issues of
strategic importance.
Collaboration between Malta
Chamber and Academia (contd.)
A Diploma in Manufacturing Excellence launched by the Malta
Chamber and the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology
(MCAST)
 To
support
foreseeable
trends
in
the
local
manufacturing industry.
 To develop initiatives relating
to the provision of industrydemanded programs and
courses.
Collaboration between Malta
Chamber and Academia (contd.)
A Diploma in Green Energy Technologies launched by
the Malta Chamber and the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering (IEEE)
 To provide opportunities to students wishing to
embark in a career in electronics and engineering,
specifically focusing upon renewable sources of
energy.
 An urgent need is arising for qualified technicians
who hold all necessary knowledge.
Collaboration between Malta
Chamber and Academia (contd.)
An Investment in Lifelong Learning
 The Malta Chamber recognizes the importance to
look into the need for today’s workforce to invest in
lifelong learning.
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It is employability which should be emphasized
rather than employee protection.
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The Malta Chamber has created training and
qualifications from the ground up.
Malta Chamber and CEDEFOP
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The Malta Chamber also contributes actively to the
work of the European Centre for the Development of
Vocational Training (CEDEFOP).

The purpose is to help Maltese businesses identify
and anticipate future skill needs and potential skill
mismatches.
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The Malta Chamber contributes as a representative
on the Governing Board of CEDEFOP.
Towards and Employability Index
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Another concern that needs addressing is the lack of
information that we currently have on how our
graduates are occupied upon completing their
studies.
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The Malta Chamber is currently assisting
Government to formulate an employability index
that can further support in the career choices of our
future workforce.
Towards and Employability
Index (contd.)
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Employees and employers should have an interest to
gain some knowledge about employability’s current
state.
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The principle purposes for developing such an index
are:
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indicating the jobs taken up by graduates;
establishing graduates’ data linked to ETC’s database;
providing average incomes across the industry.
Closing Remarks
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It is important that we realize our country’s particular
economic dependence upon the quality and
adaptability of its workforce.
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We hope to build a culture of education and training
amongst our citizens to ultimately:
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boost participation in education and training;
build skills and adaptability’
encourage lifelong learning;
ensure competitiveness of our businesses.
Thank you